TNA UK TV Ratings – Week Ending 22nd May 2011

TNA Wrestling on Challenge

The UK TV Ratings are in for the week ending 22nd May 2011 and it’s further good news for TNA Wrestling on Challenge!

According to the Broadcasters Audience Research Board – TNA iMPACT! scored a superb 197,000 viewers, for the Tuesday 17th May “The Network’s Revenge” episode featuring the surprise appearances of Mick Foley, Chris Harris and Chyna. The show was headlined by 25 Man Battle Royal  main Event won by Mr. Anderson. This was up 4,000 viewers on last weeks episode and means TNA Wrestling on Challenge continues to be the top rated wrestling programming on UK television for the seventh consecutive week and 11th time overall this year.

TNA Sacrifice, headlined by Sting vs. RVD - the most watched TNA PPV broadast ever in the United Kingdom.

But the biggest ratings news of the week is in relation to the TNA Sacrifice PPV broadcast. The event, featuring a heavily hyped Sting vs. Rob Van Dam World Title matchup drew a record 204,000 viewers, meaning TNA Sacrifice is the most watched TNA PPV ever broadcast on UK television!

Sacrifice ranked 1st overall amongst all programming on Challenge for the week, with IMPACT in second place.

TNA Xplosion, featuring a Douglas Williams vs. Okada main event, ranked outside the top 10 highest rated programs on Challenge TV and thus i’m unable to confirm the exact viewing figures for the episode. However the lowest ranked of the top 10, Catchphrase, drew 124,000 viewers and thus Xplosion falls somewhere below that figure.

Here is the Top 10 ranked programs on Challenge for the week:

Challenge
w/e 22 May 2011

1	TNA PPV TNA SACRIFICE (WED 2200)	204
2	TNA IMPACT (TUE 2158)	197
3	IN IT TO WIN IT (TUE 2059)	154
4	BULLSEYE (MON 2332)	152
5	BULLSEYE (MON 2301)	147
6	FAMILY FORTUNES (TUE 2031)	145
7	FAMILY FORTUNES (TUE 2003)	139
8	CATCHPHRASE (TUE 1934)	138
9	CATCHPHRASE (THU 1901)	131
10	CATCHPHRASE (WED 1930)	124

WWE’s RAW, headlined by a John Cena versus Jack Swagger No Holds Barred Match posted 110,000 viewers, down a whopping 43,000 viewers from last week alone.

And of even more concern for WWE is their other flagship show “Smackdown” which saw a 51,000 viewer drop with a show which featured a Randy Orton vs. Mark Henry main event. The show drew just 81,000 viewers.

WWE’s Over the Limit Pay-Per View, airing on Sky Sports 2, drew a decent 159,000 viewers for the event headlined by a Miz/John Cena WWE Title main event.

Here’s an overview of viewership for all wrestling programming for the week:

Weekly Ratings Summary:

1	TNA SACRIFICE (WED, Challenge, 2200)	204,000
2	TNA IMPACT (TUE, Challenge , 2158)	197,000
3	WWE OVER THE LIMIT-LIVE (SUN , Sky Sports 2, 2500)	159,000
4	WWE LATE NIGHT RAW – LIVE (MON, Sky Sport 3, 2600)	110,000
5	WWE LATE NIGHT SMACKDOWN (FRI, Sky Sports 4, 2203)	81,000
6	WWE LATE NIGHT BOTTOM LINE (MON, Sky Sports 3, 2201)	57,000
7	WWE AFTERBURN (SUN, Sky Sports 4, 0900)	34,000
8	TNA Xplosion (TUE, Challenge, 2400)	Under 124,000

Weekly Ratings Wins so far (2011)*:

TNA iMPACT! – 11
WWE RAW – 2
WWE Smackdown – 2

*Based on first showing viewing figures, not inclusive of +1 or replay figures.

Jesse Neal Injured

Jesse Neal: Suffered injury at Sacrifice

According to TNA sources, Jesse Neal suffered a neck injury and potential concussion during Sunday’s TNA Sacrifice PPV.

The injury occurred during the finish of the Ink, Inc. vs. Mexican America match when Hernandez executed a dominator-like finisher on Neal. Neal was at this week’s Impact TV tapings, but he wasn’t booked for any matches as a precaution following the neck trauma.

According to one source, Neal “looked loopy” and couldn’t turn his head to the side. Neal tried acting tough, telling colleagues he wasn’t sure if he had a concussion, but an MRI showed he had a bulged disk after being spiked into the mat Sunday night.

Hernandez has developed a backstage reputation for being unsafe to work with. In February, Hernandez dropped Doug Williams on his head/neck executing a Border Toss during a TV match. Williams avoided serious injury, but it was enough of a scare where the match was halted.

[Credit: PWTorch]

What’s my Angle? – “Main Event?”

Kurt Angle: Setting sights on the Main Event Scene?

I want to start by saying how great it is to see Mick Foley back on Impact, he was always the best choice for the network exec and if this past week’s impact is anything to go by then we’re in for a fun packed ride in the weeks to come.

Foley has always been one of my favourites, his personality transcends everything and he is just the type of guy that no matter what he does you just can’t help but like him.

Aftermath of iMPACT: “THE NETWORK’S REVENGE” – 17/05/2011

IMPACT Wrestling: “THE NETWORK'S REVENGE”

IMPACT Wrestling – “THE NETWORK’S REVENGE”
Tuesday 17th May 2011 – 10pm on Challenge

THIS WEEK ON IMPACT!:
Mr. Anderson wins 25 Man Battle Royal for Number 1 Contendership
Crimson d. Abyss & Samoa Joe
 Chyna returns to Pro Wrestling as Kurt Angle’s hired “Mistress”
Mick Foley is revealed as the Network’s Representative
 Sangriento d. Suicide
 “Wildcat” Chris Harris is revealed as Matt Hardy’s Mystery Tag-Partner
 AJ Styles confronts Tommy Dreamer regarding his actions 
 Ric Flair returns…but he is NOT the Network Rep
 Mickie James & Miss Tessmacher d. Madison Rayne & Tara

The IMPACT Wrestling era began with a bang and one of the best episodes in a long time. Mick Foley’s reveal as the Network Representative was well built and made a ton of sense. Mick has a rocky history (both on and off screen) with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan, is good personal friends with Sting and Kurt Angle and is a great talker. This is the perfect role for Mick.

I enjoyed the interchange between Mick and Hulk and i loved the digs at WWE with “wrestling matters”, but if i’m allowed to nitpick i thought the change to IMPACT Wrestling wasn’t very clear for the casual viewers for whom it would have come across as a random announcement that really didn’t mean anything at the end of the day. TNA will have to do a better job explaining this change to their entire audience in the weeks to come.

Top 10 of…Chyna

Chyna: Revealed as Kurt Angle's "Mistress" on IMPACT Wrestling

Only a few days before TNA Sacrifice, we still had no idea who was Kurt Angle’s “mistress” and would teaming up to take on Karen and Jeff Jarrett? well little known to them on who it turned out to be…..

Standing 5ft10 weighting 180lbs, she was billed as “The 9th wonder of the world!” and damn straight, Chyna has been a woman not to be messed during her time in WWE and now she has come to TNA to take on Karen and Jeff Jarrett at Sacrifice! For those who are not familiar with Chyna, she made a massive impact to the screen both inside and outside of the ring, she has broken so much ground for women in professional wrestling, holding accomplishments that some men have yet to make. During her tenure in the WWE she became a 3 time Intercontinental Champion, women’s Champion, first woman to complete in the Royal Rumble Match, King of the Ring, not to mention to be named number 1 contender to the WWE Championship. In November 2000 she graced the cover of Playboy magazine and 2001 she became the most dominant women’s champion until she departed.

TNA Classics: History of Sting Vs RVD in TNA

RVD vs. Sting: A rivalry with some history

The Sting and RVD saga has more rivalry attached to it than some people may think. When you look back at how RVD debuted in TNA its a perfect example of why both men will want to get one over on the other at Sacrifice Sunday May 15th.

The Debut of RVD

It was back on Impact when Sting was feuding with Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, Sting talking about a hidden agenda and doing everything to upset the Hogan and Bischoff rollercoaster.  Dixie Carter tried to talk with sting backstage and was grabbed by Sting and told her that he “owed her nothing”. This action by Sting caused Dixie to do something shes never done before and that was to make a match, however the opponent for Sting would be a secret and he would find out who it was when we all did.

Preview Tuesdays IMPACT & Xplosion on Challenge TV

TNA iMPACT!: Tuesday's 10pm on Challenge

As the road to Sacrifice continues, IT’S A NIGHT OF REVEALS! The Network is coming! Who is calling the shots? How will Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff react?

Plus, Kurt Angle has promised to reveal his new “Chosen One” – and she can’t wait to meet Karen Jarrett! Who is Kurt Angle bringing to iMPACT?

Also, who will Matt Hardy bring as his tag team partner to take on Beer Money? Plus, more news on the upcoming “Sacrifice” Pay-Per-View event which airs on Challenge TV on Wednesday night at 10pm.

Plus, don’t forget about TNA’s syndicated show – Xplosion, which follows at midnight with all the action and reaction from iMPACT! as well as an Xplosion Exclusive match-up as the UK’s own Douglas Williams takes on Okato.

Can’t watch iMPACT & Xplosion on Tuesday night from 10pm? Make sure to set your Sky+/ V+ / DVR to record it so you don’t miss any of the Total Nonstop Action!

TNA Before the Bell: Sacrifice

What’s My Angle?

Bully Ray: Cut one impressive Promo on iMPACT!

                       Well just when you thought I’d disappeared; here I am with another WHAT’S MY ANGLE!…Rant!

Now I’ve been absent a few weeks and upon my return I’m confronted with IMPACT! WRESTLING, errrrrrrrrrrr, what? I take it that Impact wrestling is a direct response to the fact that the competition has decided to drop wrestling from it product all together? Anyone fill me in on this or simply give me your thoughts on this re-brand and the whole point of it?

Scott Steiner talks TNA Return, Matt Morgan and more

Scott Steiner: Doesn't believe Matt Morgan's collegiate background is on a par with his own.

Scott Steiner was on Monday Night Mayhem earlier this week and discussed a few topics regarding TNA. Here’s a brief summary:

His feelings on returning to TNA after an eleven-month absence: “Part of the reason was I don’t know why I left. That was not my decision, and obviously they brought me back to bring the ratings back. Now I’m here, and we can go out there and prove that I’m still the best.”

Why he believes Matt Morgan’s collegiate and basketball backgrounds will not help him when “Big Poppa Pump” and “The Blueprint” square off soon: “I tired to look up his (Matt’s) profile on the computer and saw Monmouth College somewhere in the cesspools of New Jersey. I never heard of that. And supposedly Chaminade, where they somehow made it to the NCAA Tournament, where he played a couple of minutes. Fans are going to be deeply disappointed when it comes down to athletic ability, because he says he’s trying to follow in my footsteps. You can’t follow in my footsteps. So he plays with little balls and puts them in the holes. That’s not going to help his ass when he gets in the ring.”